A Trip to the Dentist

The other day I was feeling very courageous and took all 3 bits to the dentist. It was the first time for Middle Bit and Little Bit. I thought Little would be problematic. Boy was I wrong! He climbed up in that chair and did everything they asked of him. The only thing they had problems with was the xray where they put that little card in the mouth. But, they weren't terribly concerned since they had the 360. He checked out fine and was on his way with a goodie bag and balloon. What a great way to start out. Too bad it didn't end up that way. Middle Bit and Big Bit both have cavities which will be a small fortune to fix. Big Bit also had an ortho consult. I was thinking we had a few years before we started anything because she hasn't lost all of her baby teeth. WRONG! Apparently her upper jaw is too small and she needs a palate expander. They want to put it on with a few brackets in the next couple of months. So, what we'd planned on insurance covering for braces will now be spent on the expander. I have no experience with one of these. I wore braces for 4 years and they pulled permanent teeth as well as my wisdom teeth, but nothing like this. They also told us that Middle Bit will need one and to start saving because both girls will need the expander as well as braces. Fantastic. But, at least we got an advance warning and can save for a couple of years. Maybe Little Bit will be lucky and take after my brother and Woody and not need any ortho work. I can hope, right?

Unacceptable

The size of my ass. Seriously. I worked so hard over the last couple of years to lose weight and since I've moved back to Wichita all I've done is pack on the pounds. What is it about this place? I can try to blame it on thyroid issues or blood sugar issues all I want, but part of it is that I LIKE FOOD! A friend of mine told me I'm getting fat because I'm happy again. (Being back home.) And that happy people eat. So that creates a quandry in and of itself. I'm unhappy that I'm a lardo, but do I go into a depression just to get thin? That doesn't seem right, either. So now I have some things to figure out. How can I eat what I want and it not make me blow up? Or, how can I eat more healthy but still feel satisfied? And, how am I supposed to exercise when my knees are on the verge of having a blow-out? I don't know. I think I'll go munch on some coconut creme Hershey kisses while I ponder all of this.

Playing "Where's Waldo"

That's kind of how I feel right now. I feel like I am here, there and everywhere. I haven't updated in a while, so I figure while it's quiet I'll take a minute or two.

Things are going well. I am currently splitting my work hours. I work Friday and Saturday on 2nd shift and Sunday, Monday and Tuesday on 3rd. It messes up my sleep schedule, but we are short people so I am trying to help out. I'm also picking up overtime when I can. There are a few things we are really working on having paid off by August, so that is where that money is going. I also have a trainee sitting with me the next 3 weeks. I haven't trained in a while, so I'm having to get back into a groove. My schedule makes my home/personal life pretty much non-existant. Thank goodness I am surrounded by understanding family and friends.

We took an unexpected trip to Arkansas a couple of weeks ago. Nathan's grandpa (Granddaddy) passed away. He took it pretty hard. We haven't seen him in over 6 years. In fact, he's never even met Mariah or Grayson. We know that he understood and loved us none-the-less. But, it was still hard for Nathan to swallow. I think it really brought home the importance of family and spending quality time with them.

The kids are doing well. Haley is flourishing in 3rd grade. Her teacher had nothing but good things to say at conferences. Sometimes it sounds like she is describing a different child than what walks through the door at my house! Mariah is LOVING her peer model program. Her teacher said she exemplifies what it means to be a peer model. She said that when she transitions to Kindergarten that she has no doubt she will continue to be a model student. That really made my day. She is really picking up on things quickly. After 2 weeks she was already able to write her name. Haley often plays "school" with her at home and is teaching her basic math. I need to get some flashcards and such so they can do more "school work". Grayson is....Grayson. He is 3 and I feel it in my bones every single day. That child is non-stop from the time he gets up until he falls asleep. I'd love to get him into a preschool program, but his hyperactivity concerns me. He is still my tiny boy, but is starting to catch up to others his age.

Other than all of that, not a lot to report. This month is filled with training, overtime, spring break and my one sanity saving night of Bunco. While I tend to complain about the speed of our life and the stages of the kids, I wouldn't have it any other way. I know these days are short-lived and I'll look back in a couple of years and wonder where they all went.

People with NOTHING to do...

People need to mind their own business. Within the last month, I have read 2 blogs (one belonging to a fantastic woman on my moms group) where CPS has been called on the writers. Seriously people? Many of us bloggers, men and women alike, blog to get things out. We also blog to share our ups and downs, joys and downfalls with people. Never would I think of calling CPS or the police on someone from another state whom I've never met. While I don't know all the circumstances surrounding the callings and I'm sure I never will, I just want to send cyber hugs to those that have had to deal with this. It's disgraceful.

Am I a Loser???

I sure hope so! The City of Derby is sponsoring a Biggest Loser contest for city employees. While I was in Gardner I worked really hard on getting my weight off, but since we've moved back I've been slacking and have started putting the weight back on. YIKES! So, I am hoping that this, paired with my other mommy friends working on getting healthy will be what I need to get my butt in gear. I've battled my weight for as long as I can remember. (But seriously, what was I thinking calling myself "fat" when I was a size 1??? I haven't seen that number for a long time unless there was another number following it!) I'm going to get an elliptical for the house, because I don't have and can't afford a gym membership. So, wish me luck and hopefully by summer you'll see an improved Marissa!

How do you stop history from repeating itself?

A very dear friend of mine (I will call her "K"), albeit MUCH younger, but still dear just found out she is pregnant. She is young, unmarried and her boyfriend is a complete tool. This girl has been a part of my life for quite a few years and has really become part of my family. I've often told her mom how much she reminds me of myself at that age. Goes to show I wasn't too far off. This time nine years ago I was sitting my parents down and telling them that I was pregnant. I'll never forget that look of disappointment in their eyes. Now K is going through the same thing. She has a crappy, dead-end job with no prospect of advancement, she is young and doesn't have a specialized skill, but worst of all, she has a boyfriend that she loves more than he loves her. How do I make her see that she is better than that and that she deserves better than that? I grew up in a fairly strict family, so making things work was a given. But how do I let her know she doesn't have to follow that same path? That just because he's the father doesn't make him a good life partner, much less a good dad? How do I make her see that she has worth and that she can do this without him? I've made the best of my situation, but I want more for her.

When is Enough, Enough?

How long do you attempt to communicate with someone knowing it does no good? How many restless, sleepless nights do you go before taking action? How many normal conversations turned arguments do you have before you stop talking? How long do you go knowing you are giving all of yourself but knowing the person isn't? How long do you take to decide that leaving is easier than staying?